Spraying, dusting, and frost preventing device



March 30, 1943. w. SANDERSON ETAL 2,315,096

SPRAYING, DUSTING, AND FROST PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l jgyhi. w/ /0 In venior V////'e7/v 6272039715072 J55 4772i; Ma. rjaref W4 //fir March 30, 1943. w. SANDERSON EIAL 2,315,095

SPRAYING, DUSTING, AND FROST PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 La la In ventor M///m Jdhdersa By @Mm A itorney March 30, 1943. w, SANDERSON r 2,315,096

SPRAYING, DUSTING, AND FROST PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lq W a o O 6 l '1 O 0 1 l Z91 e Inventor By fimwiizm A iio'mey March 30, 1943- w. SANDERSON EIAL.

SPRAYING, DUSTING, AND FROST PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 In ventor M u M m J w m W M 2 f 6; 7 44 a a A itorney Patented Mar. 30, 1943 SPRAYING, DUSTING, AND FROST PREVENTING DEVICE William Sanderson, John Amclung, and Margaret Walther, Jersey City, N. J.

Application January 7, 1941, Serial No. 373,496

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for creating a long blast of air which can be used for preventing injury to orchards, crops, etc., by frost or cold weather and which can also be used for spraying and dusting purposes and numerous other purposes, the general object of the invention being to provide a wheel-equipped vehicle, such as a trailer, with an Opening in a side wall of its closed body, with a power driven fan in the body for creating an air blast through the opening and means for heating the air, means for introducing dusting powder into the blast and for introducing a spray of insecticide or the like into the blast.

Another object of the invention is to provide hinged cover means for the top of the body which can be raised to form a stack so that the fan when in operation will draw air through the stack and force it from the opening, the stack drawing air from a height sufliciently far from the ground where the air will be warmer than that adjacent the ground so that this warm air can be used for preventing frost or cold air from injuring crops, orchards and the like, even without the use of the heating means but such means for heating the air as it passes through the opening can be used whenever desired.

Another object of the invention is to so locate the motor for driving the fan that the exhaust gases therefrom can be used for increasing the temperature of the air discharged by the fan.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the air blast so that it can be directed in different directions.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hei einafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the invention as applied to a trailer.

Figure 2 is a similar view but with the side having the opening therein removed and the stack forming members in raised position and in section with parts of the floor in section.

Figure 3 is a top plan view with parts in section.

Figure 4 is' a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the frusto-conical duct forming member through which the fan forces the air and this view also showing the fan partly in section and a hood partly in section and detachably connectedwith the duct forming member.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the duct forming member and showing a pair of deflector members detachably connected therewith, and this view also showing a spray pipe extending across th duct forming member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view of the duct forming member and showing the fan, the feeder, the spray pipe and the deflector member.

Figure '7 is a view of the spray pipe.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig ure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper end of the body of the vehicle with thestack forming plates in closed position.

In these views the letter T indicates a trailer which includes a closed body B though it is to be understood that this vehicle can be made of any suitable form or type though it must be provided with a closed body. The body is provided with thefront and rear doors D and it has a large opening in one side thereof from which projects a substantially frusto-conica? member I which forms a duct. A fan 2 rotates in the inner end of the duct-forming member and is driven from a motor M in the body through means of a shaft 3 provided with suitable clutch means 4 controlled from the exterior of the device by a rod 5 and the throttle of the engine is controlled by a member 5' from the exterior of the device and preferably from that side which is opposite the side having the member i projecting therefrom. The exhaust gases from the motor escape into the interior of the body so thatthey will mix with the air forced therefrom by the fan 2. The fan is adjustable relatively to the member i.

The upper end of the body is open as shown at 6 and a pair of side plates 1 and a pair of end plates 8 will close such opening when they are folded downwardly as shown in Figure 9 but when the plates are swung upwardly they will form a stack, as shown in Figure 2, so that the air drawn into the body will pass through the stack which extends a sufficient distance to enter a warmer strata of air than that near the ground so that this warm air passing into the body and mixing with the exhaust and then passing through the member I under the action of the fan 2 will be warmer than the air adjacent the ground and this warm air will act to prevent injury from frost and cold weather to orchards, crops, etc.

The side plates 1 areattached to rotary shafts 8 passing longitudinally through the upper portion of the body adjacent the sides thereof with their ends projecting from the front of the body as shown at 9' and each of said ends is of nonclrcular shape in cross section so that a crank can be placed on such end to rotate the shaft to raise and lower a side plate. Transverse shafts III are fastened to the end plates 8 and pass transversely through the top part of the body and terminate at one side of the body in non-circular parts for receiving a wrench so that the shafts can be rotated to raise and lower the end plates. These shafts are arranged in spaces formed by the upwardly and inwardly curved parts I i at the top of the body at the ends and sides thereof v and flanges l2 and extend upwardly from the outer ends of the'plates I and 8 when the same are in lowered position to engage the adjacent parts II to prevent the entrance of the elements and when the plates 8 are swung upwardly these flanges l2 will move downwardly along the parts ll until they come in contact with the stop strips l3 as shown in Figure 2. The end plates 8 when swung upwardly are located between the side plates 1 and these plates 8 can be held in a vertical position, as shown in Figure 2 or in'inwardly and upwardly sloping position by pins l4 attached by chains i5 to the plates 8 and adapted to pass through holes iii in flanges ll of the plates 8 into any one of an arcuate row of holes I8 formed in each end of each plate I as shown in Figure 2. Thus by adjusting the end plates from the position shown in Figure 2 in full lines to upwardly and inwardly sloping position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the draft through the stack can be regulated or controlled. A spring strip l9 attached to an inner side beam of the body holds each side plate I in raised position by engaging a flange 20 on the side plate as shown in Figure 8. However, this latch member l9 will permit the side plates to be forcibly swung downwardly after the end plates are swung downwardly so that the parts can be placed in the position shown in Figure 9 and forming a top for the body. When in lowered position the adjacent ends of the two end plates rest upon the cross piece 2| as shown in Figure9.

Burner pipes 22 of any suitable construction pass through the side of the body having the member I projecting therefrom into said member where they receive the burner nozzles 23 of any suitable construction, the pipes and nozzles being preferably arranged in an arcuate row as shown in Figures 1 and 6 and the nozzles extending outwardly so as to discharge their flames through the outer end of the member L, Gas tanks 24 are located in the body and are connected by a pipe line 25 with the burner pipes 22 and the gas is controlled to each burner pipe by means of a valve 26. This burner arrangement with the means for feeding gas thereto may be of any suitable construction.v

A hopper 21 for containing dusting powder or the like is placed in the body and is equipped with a blower 28 which is actuated from the fan shaft by means of the belt and pulleys shown generally at 29. Suitable agitating means can be providedmember i where its outlet end is directed forwardly as shown at 88 and a conical divider 84 is adjustably supported in front of this part 88 as shown at 88 so that the dust escaping from the part as will be divided into the air stream and this pipe 38 connected therewith which passes through the side of the body adjacent the member i where it is adapted to be connected in a removable manner to a spray pipe 39, see Figure 7, which is provided with a plurality of nozzles 48. This spray pipe is removably seated in the bayonet slots 4| formed in the lower part of the outer end of the member i as shown in Figure 6, so that the liquid spray forced by the pump into the pipe 39 will be sprayed into the air stream from the fan which will distribute the spray over a consider able area. 7

A hood 42 of substantially semi-circular shape and which tapers from one end to the other is adapted to be placed in different positions on the member I with the hood projecting well beyond this member. This hood is provided with a lining 43 of asbestos or the like so that thehood will notbe injured by the flames from the burners and said hood is held in a projected position by the bolts and nuts shown generally at 44, the bolts being preferably connected with the member I as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and passing through holes in theinner end of the hood. The bolts are so arranged that the hood can be placed at the top of the member as shown in Figure 4 at either side thereof or at the bottom so that thehood can be used for directing the blast of air from the fan downwardly, to the front or rear or upwardly.

Deflector plates 41 can also be adjustably and removably connected to the outer end of the member I as shown in Figures 5 and 6. These plates are fastened by the bolts 48 to the upper and lower ears 49 attached to opposite side portions of the member and these plates can be adjusted to different inclinations to direct the blast from the fan in different directions and they can be readily removed whenever desired. As will be understood the hood and the plates 41 form member I to a point adjacent the center of the deflector means for deflecting the air passing from the frusto-conical member in desired directions.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the top plates raised a stack will be formed through which the fan will draw the air and discharge it through the member i and this air will be forced a considerable distance horizontally close to the ground. As before stated this warmer air drawn through the stack mixing with the exhaust gases from the motor will prevent damage to crops, orchards and the like by frost or cold, and whenever desired this air can be heated by the burners by turning on the valves for perthe dust or powder will be discharged into the air stream and thus distributed Over large areas.

If vegetation, etc., is to be sprayed then the pump is connected by the hose 3! with a container containing the desired spray liquid and the spray pipe 39 put in place as shown in Figure 6 and connected with the pipe 38 so that when the pump is operated from the fan shaft the liquid will be sprayed into the air stream and thus spread over a considerable area. The stack forming plates I and 8 can be adjusted as desired when spraying or dusting.

By reversing the fan the apparatus can be made to create a suction through the member I so as to remove smoke, chemical fumes or the like from a building, etc. and discharge such smoke or fumes through the stack which would of course be in open position.

A screen covered opening M may be formed in that side of the body opposite the side carrying the member I for the admission of air to the motor.

By moving the apparatus along while it is in operation a considerable area can be treated either with the warm air, the spraying or the dusting.

While the invention is mainly designed for protecting fruits, vegetables or the like from frost or low temperature and be used in dusting or spraying vegetation it will be understood that it can be used for other purposes and wherever it is necessary to produce an intense air blast which will be projected to a considerable distance and which can be directed in various directions.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body of closed construction, a stack extending upwardly from the top of the body, one wall of the body having an opening therein adjacent its lower end, a tubular member passing through the opening, a fan located in the inner end of the member and a motor located in the space formed by the body for driving the fan, said stack being formed of side and end plates hingedly connected with the top of the body and adapted to be swung downwardly and inwardly to close the top when not in use.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body of closed construction, a stack extending upwardly from the top of the body, one wall of the body having an opening therein adjacent its lower end, a tubular member passing through the opening, a fan located in the inner end of the member and a motor located in the space formed by the-body for driving the fan, said stack being formed of side and end plates hingedly connected with the top of the body and adapted to be swung downwardly and inwardly to close the top when not in use, and means for adjusting a pair of the plates to make the opening formed by the stack of different areas.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a wheeled body of closed construction having an opening in its top. side and end plates hingedly connected with the top part of the body and closing the opening when in lowered position, means for swinging the plates upwardly and outwardly to form a stack, a tubular member passing through an opening in a side wall of the body, "a motor driven fan in the inner end of said member, deflector means removably and adjustably connected with the tubular member for directing the air passing therethrough from the fan in different directions.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a wheeled body of closed construction having an opening in its top, side and end plates hingedly connected with the top part of the body and closing the opening when in lowered position, means for swinging the plates upwardly and outwardly to form a stack, a tubular member passing through an opening in a side wall of the body, a motor driven fan in the inner end of said member, deflector means removably and adjustably connected with the semi-conical member for directing the air passing therethrough from the fan in different directions, burner extending into the space formed by the tubular member and means located in the body for supplying the burners with fuel.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a wheeled body of closed construction having an opening in its top, side and end plates hingedly connected with the top part of the body and closing the opening when in lowered position, means for swinging the plates upwardly and outwardly to form a stack, a tubular member her, a substantially semi-circular hood, means for removably and adjustably connecting the hood to the outer part of the tubular member to direct the air blast in different directions therefrom.

7. In an apparatus of theclass described, a Vehicle having a closed body, an adjustable stack at the upper end of the body, a tubular member extending through an opening in a side of the body, a motor driven fan in the body for forcing air through the tubular member, deflector plates and means for adjustably and removably connecting the defiector'plates to the outer end of the tubular member.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising a body of closed construction, one wall of the body having an air inlet opening therein, a second wall of the body having an opening therein adjacent its lower'end, a tubular member passing through the last-mentioned opening, a fan located in the inner end of the member and adjustable toward and away from the said inner end, a motor located in the space formed by the body for driving the fan, the heat of the motor and the exhaust gases thereof heating the air discharged from the body by the fan.

WILLIAM SANDERSON. JOHN AMELUNG. MARGARET WALTHER. 

